Book Three, Chapters 0261 to 0270

The Vampire's Daughter
Book Three

Chapters 0261 to 270
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0261

After Vein closed the door, Elizabeth sat down on the couch. "The world is falling apart around me," she said quietly, putting the letter on the floor and laying down. Some of her wounds still hurt as she moved.

"This too shall pass," Sabastian said, causing Elizabeth to sit up and look around. Sabastian, however, wasn't in the room and the door to the basement remained closed and locked.

"Great, now I'm hearing things," Elizabeth said.

She reached down and picked up the letter. She felt the wax seal and examined the design of it. It was definitely from Sol. Although she didn't know if it was for her, she felt as though she should open it, as there was no other way to figure out who the intended recipient had been without reading the letter. Before breaking the seal, however, she paused and held it in her hand. She knew it wasn't for her. She felt inside that it was intended for Sabastian.

"Even if it is for him," she said, "he's in no shape to read it." She broke the seal and pulled out the hand written letter. The neat and curvy handwriting was definitely Sol's. In fact, Elizabeth smiled, remembering how often she mocked him for his girly handwriting.

"Sabastian," she read to herself. "I'm sorry for the way in which I departed, but I had little choice. As you may know by now, I've been accused of killing John Paul, the founder of the Zionist clan, and his successor Paul. A blood hunt has been called. I did not kill either of them.

"I was, in fact, with John Paul when he was killed. The killer was Paul. I do not know how Paul died, but I can't say that I'm upset by his passing. Regardless, I stand accused and must work to clear my name or at least come to some resolution of the matter. But the blood hunt is a secondary concern.

"You see, my last interaction with John Paul was proceeded by a disturbing interaction with Susan. As I'm sure you know, no harm came to the child because of our exchange, but it moved me to my core and I fled the house, seeking out John Paul for advice. I'm no longer certain what I saw or heard that night, but if you ask her to explain, I'm sure she will be better able to put the events of that evening into words than I.

"Before being killed, John Paul gave me a list of vampires that he thought would be able to help me better understand what happened with Susan. They all live in Europe. That is where I am residing at the moment. I hope that they will also be able to help me with the blood hunt issue, but that is, honestly, not my primary concern.

"When I have resolved the current issues, I would very much appreciate visiting you again and, perhaps, if you would allow, moving back in. Until then, however, I fear that I would be a great danger to Susan. I know that you would not allow this and will remain at a distance.

"Sincerely, Sol."

Elizabeth folded the letter in her lap and looked up. "If Sol isn't watching Susan," she thought, "then where is the girl? I haven't heard from Mary. I just assumed that Mary and Sol were taking care of her. I don't even have a way to contact Mary to find out."

She stood up, put the letter on a side table, and walked to the cellar door. As she undid the mechanical locks, she asked out loud, "What am I going to tell Sabastian?"

"My God, what does he already know?" she said, covering her mouth with her hand.

0262

Opening the door to the cellar, Elizabeth thought about what she might tell Sabastian about Sol and, ultimately, Susan. There seemed to be no good answers. He was in such a delicate state that anything she said could make matters turn for the worse.

If he decided to look for her in his current state, he was as likely to die in the sun as be killed by Thomas. If he internalized his concerns, he might never come out of his current shell. If he grew angry, there is no telling what could happen. "He might even turn on me," she thought.

As she reached the landing, she looked at Sabastian, curled up in the corner of the room. She had left him in the bed, but it seemed that every time she left the basement he moved back to the corner.

She walked over and took him by the shoulders. "Come my dear," she said, "you mustn't lay on the floor like this. Come back to the bed. I'll lay with you."

Sabastian stood and turned around. He looked right through Elizabeth and she knew it. She wasn't even sure that he knew she was there, though he complied with her request.

She spooned him in the bed, but didn't say anything about the letter.

Several days latter, Elizabeth woke to find Sabastian sitting at the edge of the bed. "What's wrong my dear?" she asked, sliding behind him and putting her arms around his waist.

"I am watching them talk," he said, pointing to the wall in front of him.

"Who is talking?" Elizabeth asked.

"I think they are from God. Susan says they watch us. That she and I are of special interest to them so they watch us more than they watch others," he said.

"You see angels?" she asked, with a worried look on her face.

"Yes and no. One is an angle and one is what you might call a devil, but both are from God. That is what Susan would say."

"What are they saying?"

"They are talking about me," he said, and then nodded at the wall. "Yes," he said, "I can see and hear you." After saying that, however, he turned and crawled back into bed, leaving Elizabeth at the end tearing.

She crawled back to him and asked, "Are they still here?"

"No, they left when they realized I could see and hear them"

"What did you hear them say before they left?" she asked, trying to keep herself from crying hysterically.

"They said that I am being tested. That if I pass the test then I am worthy," he answered.

"Worthy of what?"

"I do not know," Sabastian said. "I am not even sure what they mean by a test."

"Oh, my child," Elizabeth said, stroking Sabastian's hair.

"What did your guest have to say?" he asked.

"Nothing of any importance."

Sabastian shot up in the bed and moved close to the edge. He looked very intently at the side of the room and turned his head. "How do I know I can trust you?" he asked.

"I'm your sire," Elizabeth said, "we've had our problems, but I assure that you can trust me. I'm here to help you."

Sabastian turned back to her and said, "Your presence here does not help me. You are needed elsewhere. No harm will befall me, but you must keep me close."

"What are you saying?" Elizabeth asked, but Sabastian simply lay back down.

She rubbed his arm and asked, "You think I should stand and fight Thomas, don't you?" He didn't answer. "How do you fight a vampire with his strength and connections throughout the world? If I fight him, not only am I rebelling against my sire, to whom I owe so much, but I'm also cutting myself off from the Old World and much of the New. This is a fools errand."

"This too shall pass," Sabastian said quietly.

Elizabeth chuckled as a tear ran down her face, "That wasn't the answer I was looking for," she said.

0263

Several nights later, Sabastian jumped up from the bed and stood naked in the middle of the room.

"What is it?" Elizabeth asked, shocked at his sudden movement.

"We have guests. Quickly, put on your clothing. Be prepared to fight."

"What?" she asked, doing as he said.

"Thomas is back and he has brought friends," Sabastian said, while getting himself dressed. Standing at the foot of the steps, he continued, "They are down the street. Twenty of them. Night is leading them, with Thomas behind. We should meet them in the front courtyard for the battle."

"What battle, it will likely be a slaughter. You are in no shape to fight, and I can't possibly take on twenty vampires alone," she said to him. Hugging him, she said, "Sabastian, I knew it would eventually come to this. I want you to know that I love you. I have always loved you. You were the special one."

"I care deeply for you, too, Elizabeth. But our time has not come."

"It hasn't? I'm glad you are so confident. But I can't trust that you will be capable of the fight, so I'm ordering you, as your sire, to stay behind," she said. Her larger concern, however, was that his powers might prove more of a liability then a benefit if she should get in the way of his anger. After throwing both her and Mary across the room with Night that evening, she wasn't sure he even knew what his powers were, let alone how to control or direct them.

"As you might expect, I am going to ignore your order. Besides who said we would have to fight alone?"

"What?" she asked, confused.

"Your friend from the other night. While you may have spurned him, he has not given up hope that you will do what you know is needed," Sabastian said.

"I'm confused," Elizabeth said. "How did he know?"

"Come," Sabastian said taking her hand, "there is no time to discuss unimportant and tangential topics."

They ran out to the front court and into the street. To the left they could see Night and her band walking casually, though silently, down the street. To the right there was no one.

"I thought you said we didn't have to fight alone," Elizabeth said.

"Wait."

As Night's band drew closer, Elizabeth could see that they were outfitted for a battle. Most had full leather armor with modern plastic padding. Some wore helmets and all appeared to have weapons. While Elizabeth watched this band advance, Sabastian stood looking the other way.

"Sabastian, I think it would be beneficial if you stopped waiting for a miracle and helped me fight. They are almost here."

"I will not fight," Sabastian said to her, his back still turned away.

"What!" Elizabeth exclaimed, grabbing him by the arm and turning him around. "You could have at least told me that before we got up here. I can't fight this many vampires alone!"

"You will not have to," he said. "You will order your clan to fight for you."

As he finished the sentence, Vein and a large number of vampires came running around the corner behind Sabastian. Elizabeth saw them, closed her eyes, and smiled.

"I should have trusted you," she said to Sabastian, leaning in and kissing him on the lips. He didn't return the kiss, as he had again gone into a catatonic state. She stepped back from him, crying lightly. "My child, my love. This is not the life I wanted for you. For us."

He said nothing, looking blankly past Night's vampires. Elizabeth could see, however, that his eyes were following something, but she couldn't tell what.

0264

As Elizabeth stood there, Vein and several others came running up. "So, you've decided to take me up on my offer after all," he said. "Ah, no woman has ever been able to refuse me, you know. So you shouldn't feel too bad about it. That said, I think we might consider a strategic retreat so that we may discuss your submission to my advances in a more private way."

"Exactly when did I say I changed my mind?" She asked.

He looked at her blankly, then at Sabastian, and said, "I... I don't know. I just know that you've changed your mind and needed our help."

"We will discuss this topic, but not until after we've dispatched this band of misfits," she answered.

Vein waved his hand in front of Sabastian's face, eliciting no response. "This isn't what you are protecting is it?"

"Yes it is. Have two men take him..." she started.

"I will stay where I am. No harm will come to me," Sabastian interrupted.

"Very well," Elizabeth said angrily. "Have two of your best men guard him," she said to Vein, then asked, "How many men do you have?"

"Thirty, well, twenty eight that can fight," he answered sarcastically.

"Line them up for battle. Night will attempt to kill Sabastian and I first, so put more on either side of the street so they can get around the lead advance. That will pose a credible threat to Thomas, which will cause them to pull back to protect their leader. We should be able to encircle them."

"Yes Madam President," he said, leaving to arrange his men, which didn't take very long.

Upon his return, Elizabeth said, "You will refer to me as your queen from here on in."

Vein smiled, and said, "As you wish, my Queen. Though I think we need to discuss this arrangement a little more if we should survive the night as you have promised."

"I have it on good authority that we will," she said, turning and yelling, "Halt!" at Night. Night put her arm up, stopping her group about twenty feet from Elizabeth.

"As the head of the Orion clan and ruler of Manhattan, I command you to leave this island," Elizabeth announced in a loud and serious tone.

Night looked at her and started to laugh, "Ruler of Manhattan? You've dubbed yourself the ruler of New York City? Is that your rag tag little army behind you? The Orions?

"Do you really think you stand a chance against the Enforcers? You would need at least twice as many!" she exclaimed, turning to her troops, who, as if on cue, erupted into laughter.

Elizabeth smiled, walking brazenly toward Night. Night, watching Elizabeth out of the corner of her eye, turned and went to meet her half way. Vein started to walk out with Elizabeth but Sabastian restrained him.

Vein looked up at Sabastian with a mix of shock and anger. Sabastian, still looking beyond the vampires, said, "She is fighting demons well beyond those that stand before her. She is winning, but it is a fight she must take on alone. There will be plenty for you to do when it is time to fight."

Vein drew his arm away and looked out at Night and Elizabeth, who had finally reached each other.

"Bow before me or face the consequences peasant," Elizabeth said loudly enough for all to hear.

"High words coming from a poor farm girl," Night said, as she moved to slap Elizabeth.

Elizabeth, however, caught her arm and twisted it so that Night was forced to the ground in front of her. A grimace of pain flashed across Night's face as she screamed out, "Attack!"

0265

Elizabeth waited for the Enforcers to advance before swinging Night like a club and hitting four of them to the ground. She yelled out, "Now!" as the vampires hit the floor, Night floundering on top of them.

Vein threw his arm into the air and directed his clan forward.

The Enforcers, as Elizabeth had predicted, were all converging on her. This left ample room for the Orions to get by on the side as Elizabeth, Vein and a few others held the center.

It didn't take long for Night to realize what was happening, leading her to scream, "Protect Thomas!"

By that time, however, the Orions had gotten along the sides of the Enforcers. The battle was taking place on three sides, leaving just the back open for retreat. Which was, in the end, what Elizabeth had hoped for.

Standing in the center of the battle, Night glared at Elizabeth and then lunged at her. Elizabeth sidestepped the attack, letting Night glide through the air and beyond the street fight. She tucked into a roll and ended directly in front of the two Orions protecting Sabastian.

As the pair moved to attack Night, Sabastian grabbed them by the shoulders halting their progress. "Leave her," he said.

Night stood there looking at Sabastian. In the distance Thomas could be heard screaming, "Kill him!"

"Come now little Bee, your master is commanding you," Sabastian said quietly to Night. His bodyguards looked at each other quizzically, as neither knew quite what to do.

"I'm not afraid of you," she said defiantly.

"Your fears matter very little to me," Sabastian said. "The only issue that currently concerns me is if you are going to follow your orders."

She crouched slightly, but didn't move. Instead she looked deeply into Sabastian's eyes. The fight behind, meanwhile, had slowed, as all eyes were turning to Night and Sabastian.

"Leave us," he said to his guards, who quickly complied. "They are all out of earshot if you speak softly."

Night turned and looked behind her, and saw that all of the vampires had stopped fighting. In fact, the only one still moving at all was Thomas, who continued to direct her to attack Sabastian.

She turned back to him and asked, "If I attack you, will you kill me?"

"Easily."

"And if I run?"

"Thomas will treat you as he has treated Elizabeth, which might be a worse fate than death."

"Is there no way out of this?"

Sabastian chuckled. "Despite what you have done in your life and to Elizabeth, I do not want to kill you."

"But if I attack you, you will," she responded.

"Yes."

Nervously, Night asked, "What if I let you attack me?"

"Then I will hurt you severely and you will owe me your life."

"And how would I repay that debt?" Night asked.

"However I see fit," Sabastian answered.

"I don't believe I have much of a choice."

"No, little Bee, you do not," Sabastian said, lunging at her. He took her by the neck with his left hand and lifted her high into the air. He pushed his right hand slowly through the skin of her abdomen causing her to scream in pain.

His hand ripped through muscle and pushed aside intestines, deftly avoiding anything that might kill Night. Eventually, his hand emerged from the other side of her.

Night looked down at Sabastian, with bloody tears in her eyes. "It hurts," she said, her jaw quivering in pain.

"It should," Sabastian said.

As he pulled his hand back through her body, Night's eyes fluttered to the back of her head and she went limp. Sabastian spun around once, and, upon returning to where he started, threw Night's lifeless body at Thomas.

Elizabeth turned toward the Enforcers and her sire, and said loudly, "It is over."

Vein raised his hand, signaling his clan to regroup. Elizabeth turned her back on the Enforcers and walked to Sabastian.

0266

As Elizabeth reached Sabastian, who was still looking directly at Thomas, she put her hand up to his cheek. "Are you OK my dear?"

"Yes," he said.

She looked at his hand and marveled at the fact that there was no blood on him at all, even though there was blood all over the street. "Did you kill her?"

"No," he answered.

"Why not?"

"It was not her time," he said, turning and walking back to the house.

Vein walked up behind Elizabeth and asked, sarcastically, "This is what you needed to protect?"

Turning, she said, "He is more delicate than he appears."

"I looks like Thomas has called a retreat," Vein said. "I believe that you and I have some important discussions ahead of us, Madam President. Perhaps we can begin tonight in your house. I don't think Thomas will be back for some time."

"That sounds like a good plan, though I do like the sound of Queen," Elizabeth said with a hint of jest, walking to the house. Vein followed, telling his clan to keep an eye on the area.

Once inside, Elizabeth went into the living room and sat down in her armchair. Vein sat on the couch.

"Where did he go?" Vein asked. "I do not sense his presence."

"He is in the basement."

"After that display, he will be a powerful ally for us," Vein said.

"He will be no such thing. I noted that he is in a fragile state. It is no state for fighting battles. And I don't believe he fights for the same reasons as you and I."

"Is he a danger to our cause?" Vein asked with a concerned look.

"I honestly don't know," Elizabeth answered.

"Yet we must protect him," Vein said. "I guess we'll have to find a home in which we can both protect ourselves from without and from within."

"Do not concern yourself with protecting us from Sabastian. If he ever decided to kill us, nothing you could do would stop him.

"At one point I thought that if enough vampires attacked him they could win. My estimation of the numbers needed went from a few Enforcers to a combat team to an army. Now I'm not even sure that a blood hunt would suffice."

"What are you suggesting?" Vein asked.

"I'm not suggesting anything. I'm telling you that Sabastian is likely the most powerful vampire you have ever met. If the Four still exist, if they ever existed, I believe he would rival their storied strength. If I am to lead you into battle with Thomas, you will be taking on the risk of keeping Sabastian among us. But I will not help you unless you take on that risk."

"Then I guess it is a risk I must accept," Vein said. "We have been using your old apartment as our headquarters, but I no longer think that is the most prudent option. We need a building with a very deep and secure cellar."

"I will not lock Sabastian up. He will have free reign of whatever facility you select."

"Will you provide me with no protection against that thing? You did notice what he did to Night, didn't you?" Vein asked.

"If he wanted you dead, he would have already killed you," she answered, ignoring both questions.

"Wonderful," Vein responded. "I'm between a rock and a hard place, and those are the two vampires that are on my side. I fear that Thomas will be little more than a distraction."

"We should be so lucky. Thomas' fingers reach far and wide. Even some of his enemies would support him if they thought it would keep the New World under some semblance of control. Trust me, this battle we have chosen to take won't be easy.

"I'm something of an outcast already, but now I will be reviled throughout this continent and in the Old World. If we do not win in our fight, there will be nothing that can save us."

"Unless, of course, the time bomb in the basement blows a gasket," Vein retorted with a smile.

"God help us all if that should happen," Elizabeth responded seriously.

0267

Sol and Jamie spent months waiting. There were numerous, powerful vampires in Gan's castle, but none other than the first, who Sol had taken to calling the White Vampire, had made any contact. Gan, though back from his search, hadn't even made his presence known.

Although confinement in the inner castle of a feared assassin was at first enjoyable, as it allowed Sol time to think about recent events and gave him protection from the blood hunt that had been called for him, time was beginning to drag. He and Jamie spent a good deal of their nights with Car and her sister, who had strangely stopped trying to kill Jamie, losing at Mahjong.

When they weren't losing at the game, Jamie watched television or read, and Sol looked out over the horizon from atop the tower. He couldn't help wondering what was going on with his friends. This surprised him a little, as, despite the short time he spent with Sabastian, Mary, Susan and Claudia, he really did consider them his coven.

But it didn't really matter, as he was stuck, waiting. His life potentially in the balance. This peaceful boredom, however, was soon to end.

"You spend a great deal of time up here," Gan said from behind Sol.

Without turning, Sol answered, "Gan, it's about time. The vampires you've brought are either here to kill me or they are the ones on John Paul's list."

"Perhaps they are both," Gan said, walking to Sol's side.

"Am I being called for an audience with the group?" asked Sol.

"Not yet. We are still debating."

"We? What affiliation do you have with this group?" Sol queried.

"Your list had fourteen names on it that I knew. I was number eleven," Gan answered.

"I'm not paying you for finding yourself," Sol said, his mind racing from this new information. How could John Paul trust Gan, the most notorious vampire assassin? What could the pair have to do with each other? If Gan was on the list, what about the others-what kind of vampires were they?

Gan laughed, "No, I won't charge you for that." He put a hand on Sol's shoulder, "I know it's been a long time, but we are vampires. Time means little to us. In fact, time means so little to some of the old fools I've brought here that they insist on debating the same point for days.

"We have decided that we want to talk to you, but we haven't decided anything beyond that. The funny thing is, based on John Paul's letter, it was a virtual given that we would talk to you. And still they debated it for what feels like a month."

"It's been at least a month," Sol said.

"Has it? I lose track of time so easily," Gan answered.

"If you want to talk to me, what is left to debate?" Sol asked.

"If we should do it as 13, or awaken the last of us."

"Awaken?"

"Yes, the final member of our group has been asleep for some time. There is debate over how important you really are and if it is worth waking him."

"Who?"

"Ah, to you he will remain number 14. But, I dare say, if we bring him to this meeting, there had better be a good reason. He isn't the type you trifle with, if you know what I mean," Gan said.

"Well, I certainly hope you make that decision more quickly than the first," Sol said with a resigned laugh.

"We'll see," Gan said. "As it stands, I just wanted you to know that there has been some progress."

"Thank you, I guess," Sol answered, as Gan walked toward the stairwell back into the castle. Turning he said, "Gan, I have a question."

Stopping, but not turning, Gan said, "Yes."

"How are you, an assassin, tied into John Paul and the Zionists?"

0268

Gan turned around, walked back out onto the tower, and looked at Sol. He looked deeply into Sol's eyes and mind. Sol defended only certain thoughts from Gan.

"You were raised to believe, but your life suggests to you that you shouldn't believe," Gan said. "Sol, we all do God's work in one way or another. It is all in his plan."

"You aren't the first to tell me that," Sol responded, turning away and looking out over the horizon.

"I assume John Paul has told you the same thing many times."

"He wasn't the only one," Sol said. "But it still strikes me as odd that you should so willingly and easily kill. What are you, God's assassin?"

Gan laughed loudly, then, putting an arm around Sol, said, "I do not kill as easily as you may think."

"Really? Then how do you explain this?" Sol asked, pointing at the courtyard full of vampires training to be assassins.

"I play a part, as do you. My part involves killing. It is that simple," Gan answered.

"So do you work for God or the devil?"

Gan chuckled, removing his arm from Sol. "God loves us all and we all play a part in his plan. That plan is larger than you imagine. It's larger than I can imagine. The devil isn't in a constant fight against God the way you were taught. There is no bogeyman trying to damn us, or anyone else for that matter. We don't need any help, we do that very well ourselves.

"You want to believe, but you don't know what to believe. It's O.K. This isn't heaven, you don't have to be perfect..." Gan said, but stopped, as he was distracted by a row of cars in the distance.

"Do you sense them?" he asked Sol.

"Yes," Sol answered.

"Can you tell who they are?"

"They are from the European Court."

"I expected this would happen," Gan said. "Can you tell what they want?"

"No, they are protecting their minds fairly well and the distance is still great, but I don't think they are here to wish me well."

Gan laughed again, "No, I don't imagine they are."

"There are a great many of them. This is a show of force. I sense almost 100 vampires in the caravan," Sol said.

"Yeah, that's about what I got," Gan said.

"If you can read them, why ask me?"

"Consider it another test."

"Do you know what they want?" Sol asked.

"Yes," Gan answered.

"Would you mind sharing it with me?"

"You don't want to know, but your guess wasn't off base," Gan said. He looked over the edge of the tower at his army. All of his troops had stopped and were looking up, waiting for orders. "To the gates!" he yelled down to them.

"Car," Gan said while watching his men prepare, "please take Sol down to his room and make sure he is safe."

"Yes sir," the little girl's voice came from behind, causing Sol to spin around.

"I didn't even know she was there," Sol said to Gan.

"You are young, you were distracted."

"What about Jamie?" Sol asked.

"Ah, your consort. Yes, Car..." Gan started, but Car interrupted.

"It has already been taken care of."

"Thank you Car," Gan said.

"Yes, thank you," Sol said.

"I'm only doing my job," she responded. "Will you please join me?" she asked Sol, as she turned.

"If it's all the same," Sol said, "I'd rather stay."

Gan looked at him for a moment and then said, "So be it."

0269

Gan walked down to the inner courtyard with Sol and Car in tow. The gate that led to the outer courtyard was lowered and the trio walked through it. It was the first time since entering the inner court that Sol had stepped beyond its borders.

As he walked out, Gan's entire army turned to look at him.

"You are very popular," Gan said in jest to Sol.

"So it seems, but you didn't give me much choice in the matter," he replied.

"No, I guess I didn't. But if you are as important as John Paul believed, the loss was well worth it," Gan said to Sol, then more loudly, he announced, "Sol is with me. If you have a problem with him, you have a problem with me."

His men continued to look, but said nothing. Then, from behind, a girl's voice rang out, "Sol is a good vampire. I forgive him."

Gan and Sol turned to see Car holding her twin sister Belinda's hand. They both smiled at Sol, which, in turn, caused Gan to smile and nod at the two girls.

To Sol Belinda said, "I've stopped trying to kill Jamie."

"I know," Sol said. "Thank you."

"They have sent a representative to the gate," a gruff voice came from above the outer wall, causing Sol and Gan to return their attention to the issue at hand.

"So it begins," Gan said, to Sol. "You should stay here and wait, but I don't think you will listen to me."

"No, I don't think I will. If I am expecting you and your men to fight for my life, I will not cower and hide. I will fight beside you," Sol said.

"That is very brave. Stupid, but brave," Gan said, then, to the sisters, he said, "Make sure that this confrontation doesn't require Sol to lose his life."

"We will," they said in unison.

Gan walked to the gate and said, "Open it and let the representative in."

The gate opened and a woman dressed in purple robes walked in and politely bowed to Gan. Gan nodded his head to acknowledge and asked, "How may I help you?"

"You can hand Sol over to us," the female vampire said, waving a hand at Sol.

"And why would I do that?" Gan asked.

The woman smiled and said, "We have had a working relationship with you for a very long time, it would be a shame to end that over such a trivial thing as this."

"Trivial?" Gan asked mockingly. "I do not believe a blood hunt is trivial. Especially when it is called by what was supposed to be a neutral clan over the supposed murder of its founder."

"Indeed," she replied, "the blood hunt and its cause are deadly serious. However, the vampire you are protecting is trivial. You do know that he killed Paul, as well."

"If anything in this matter is trivial, it is that little leach Paul. John Paul wouldn't listen to me when I warned him about that parasite," Gan responded.

"Your feelings about the head of the Zionists aside..." the female vampire started, but was interrupted by Gan.

"Paul was not the head of the Zionists. John Paul was."

"This is not going well," the woman said.

"No, it is not," Gan replied.

"What is it you wish?" she asked.

"I wish that you would go away," Gan said.

"You know as well as I that I cannot do that," she responded. "Is Sol paying you? We will double that sum."

"Well, that is a princely offer for someone who is so trivial. It seems that Sol is more important to you than you originally suggested," Gan said smirking.

0270

The female vampire looked away from Gan, then, turning back said, "We have been valuable allies for a very long time. I would hate to see this event end our mutually beneficial relationship."

Gan smiled. "Then I suggest you leave now, before something happens to endanger our precious relationship."

"I have been sent by royalty. You know this and still you have the insolence of a fool," the woman said.

"I have my reasons for protecting Sol, and it has nothing to do with money. My work has never had anything to do with money. If your Kings and Queens could understand that, then they would understand why I only take on select assignments. But they are too foolish to comprehend what is right before their eyes. They think I work for them no matter how many times I tell them otherwise. I am inclined to protect Sol and there is nothing you can offer me that will alter this," Gan said.

"We want to find a peaceful solution to this problem," the woman said sternly.

"Then go home," Gan replied.

"You know as well as I that going home is not an option. I have been given an order and to fail would mean my head."

"Then you do have a quandary on your hands," Gan said.

The female vampire looked down in obvious anger, then, looking Gan in the eyes, said, "We can take him by force if need be."

"What, are you going to lay siege to my castle?" Gan asked loudly, causing a cheer to rise up among his men. He looked around and smiled, "It seems my men would welcome such a challenge."

"Then your men have no concept of what they face," she replied. "My troops are made up entirely of elite guardsmen. Few can stand up to their strength."

"Oh, I see. Elite guardsmen," Gan said nodding his head seriously, as if pondering something. "My castle has stood, undisturbed for hundreds of years. Your kings and queens, while battling for power, were never able to take it, despite hundreds of attempts. Do you really believe I fear that this time you will succeed?

"And what of these elite troops of your. If they were any good, I would have recruited them already. Look around you," he said. "You see a hodgepodge, rag tag group of vampires loyal to an old fool. To be sure, I read that from your mind as you entered my court. What you don't understand is that each vampire here has been hand chosen. Selected by myself over centuries. I do not suffer fools lightly and trust me, there are no fools here other than yourself. If you want to fight, we will be ready. If you want to live, you will go back to your royalty and deal with the consequences, because, if we engage, I will make sure your death is slow and painful."

The vampire looked at Gan and then Sol. She focused on Sol for nearly a minute, before saying, "I hope you are worth this fight." She nodded politely to Gan and walked back to the gate.

"Open it for her," Gan said.

Sol walked to Gan's side as they watched her leave. "This is bad," he said.

Gan looked at him and replied, "No, if we even do end up fighting, it is nothing. It will be good training for my men. Some will die, but we haven't had to defend the castle in a hundred years. In fact, it might even be a good thing. Perhaps this is God's way of telling us that we've lost our edge."

"Isn't that taking belief a little too far?" Sol asked.

Gan smiled, but did not look at him, "You can never have too much faith in God."

[The Vampire’s Daughter: An ongoing vampire story. Copyright Reuben Gregg Brewer, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009. All rights reserved.]